Selly Oak MP Steve McCabe joins campaigners to raise awareness for Foster Care Fortnight

Former Shadow Minster for Children and Families, Steve McCabe MP is backing Foster care Fortnight (16-29 May) the UK’s biggest foster care awareness raising campaign.

Steve is backing the campaign organised by leading fostering charity, The Fostering Network. Foster Care fortnight showcases the commitment, passion and dedication of foster carers across the country.

A recent survey conducted by The Fostering Network asked 261 children with experience of foster care about range of issues aimed at identifying what they consider to be the key qualities and skills needed to foster. The overwhelming call was for foster carers who can provide them with security, support and love. The top three qualities that these children and young people identified as key to making a good foster carer were:

• making them feel safe and secure (67 per cent)
• supporting and helping them (61 per cent)
• loving them (54 per cent)

Over 9000 new foster families will be needed across the UK in the next 12 months to care for a range of children, with the greatest need being for foster carers for older children, sibling groups, disabled children and unaccompanied asylum seeking children.  The current lack of suitable foster carers means that children are placed further away from home and sibling groups are more likely to be split up.

Steve McCabe MP said:

“As a former Minister for Children and families and social worker this is an issue close to my heart. What matters is that children know where they are going each night, that they have someone to offer the support they deserve and most of all someone to show them kindness.  I’ve seen what a fantastic job foster carers do and would urge anyone who may have thought about it to find out more.   

“Every 20 minutes another child comes into care requiring a foster family in the UK. That’s why it’s vital that more people take up this rewarding experience”

 If you believe you have the skills that children and young people want in their foster carer, visit thefosteringnetwork.org.uk/could-you-foster today and find out more.